International eventing returns to Great Meadow, The Plains, from June 18 to 21, with a star-studded roster of horses and riders vying for top honors in the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan®. This fabulous "equestrian triathlon" of dressage, cross-country and show jumping showcases the inaugural $30,000 CIC3* and the final Pan Am team preparation trial.

The Land Rover U.S. 3-Day team is on course to compete one month later at the 2015 Pan American Games in Canada. U.S. 3-Day chef d'equipe/technical advisor David O'Connor has his – and the team's – sights focused on winning gold, but there's more to American success at the Pan Ams: qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Canada qualified via the disqualification of the French team at the Alltech FEI 2015 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. Brazil, as the 2016 Olympics host, qualifies automatically. The U.S. wants very much to return to the international medals podium.

The Land Rover U.S. 3-Day Pan Am team includes: Phillip Dutton and Tom Tierney and Simon Roosevelt's Fernhill Cubalawn or Tom Tierney and Annie Jones' Fernhill Fugitive; Lauren Kieffer and Marie Le Menestrel's Meadowbrook's Scarlett; Marilyn Little and Raylyn Farm Inc. and Phoebe and Michael Manders' RF Scandalous. Boyd Martin and the Pancho Villa Syndicate's Pancho Villa. The six alternates are Jennie Brannigan (Nina Gardner's Cambalda), Matt Brown (Blossom Creek Foundation's BCF Bellicoso), Will Faudree (Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables' Pfun), Lauren Kiefer (Jacqueline Mars' Vermiculus), Michael Pollard (Carl, Nicholas and Stanislas Bouckaert's Cyrano Z), and Tamie Smith (Alex Ahearn's Mai Baum).

Kieffer, named to the team and also as an alternate with a second qualified horse, is about to represent the U.S. for the first time. She's locally based and spent six years under the Olympian tutelage of David and Karen O'Connor, progressing from working student to paid employee to running her own business for several years in The Plains-Middleburg area.

2014 proved a stellar year for Kieffer, who harvested Leading Lady Rider of the US Eventing Association. She also earned the 2014 Rolex/U.S. Equestrian Federation's National CCI Four-Star Championship as top-placed American rider when she piloted Ms. Jacqueline Mars' Veronica, to 2nd place overall at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky 3-Day event.

Enthusiasts are promised tons of eventing action, thanks to the 11th annual Surefire Horse Trials, June 19-21, just north of Middleburg. Jan Byyny's Surefire Farm is a popular June destination for upper level and up-and-coming event riders and horses from Beginner Novice to Intermediate. Although the two venues are running concurrently, schedules have been coordinated carefully between Surefire and Great Meadow International.

The momentum for Great Meadow to specialize in world-class 3-day competition continues to build at Great Meadow International, which submitted its application to the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) to host a first-ever eventing Nations Cup leg in North America. The USEF approved the application, and everyone involved is eager to hear the FEI's decision even though their attention is focused on the inaugural CIC3* and the Pan Am Prep Event.

"Things are coming together beautifully," said Robert L. Banner, President of the Great Meadow Foundation. "Land Rover is signed on as the title sponsor. Adequan is signed on as the presenting sponsor. The VIP tables and boxes are selling briskly. The trade show is brimming with top brands. The Pan Am team has been named and is excellent. Entries for the CIC3* are filling, as well. The cross-country course is being built and it's HUGE! Soon, we will open the doors to our nation, and later, the World. As Land Rover says, 'Above and Beyond!'"